The Congress has released its first list of 31 candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly polls, with wrestler-turned-politician Vinesh Phogat nominated from the Julana constituency and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda from Garhi Sampla-Kiloi. The party has also revealed its picks for other key constituencies in Haryana, resulting in heightened anticipation for the upcoming elections. Stay tuned for more updates on the Congress' candidates and their chances at the polls.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, along with other key figures, chaired a meeting of the Central Election Committee to finalize candidates for the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. The list includes notable inclusions such as former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Olympian wrestler Vinesh Phogat. The party has also gained the support of two prominent wrestlers, Vinesh and Bajrang Punia, who have joined the Congress after their protest against BJP leader Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh.
Vinesh Phogat, Olympic wrestler, and Bajrang Punia, Indian wrestler, joined the Congress party in New Delhi on September 6, 2024. In response, the party announced Phogat as their candidate for the Julana constituency in the upcoming Haryana Assembly elections. Meanwhile, Punia was appointed as the working chairman of the All India Kisan Congress and is unlikely to run in the Haryana polls. The party also released its first list of candidates for the elections, including former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and State unit chief Udai Bhan.
As Delhi prepares for the upcoming Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations, concerns have been raised about the excessive use of thermocol in pandals and decorations. The city is expected to generate a significant amount of dry thermocol waste in just 10 days, which could pose a major threat to the environment and the festivities. Meanwhile, the Congress has released its first list of candidates for the Haryana Assembly elections, with Olympian Vinesh Phogat and former chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda among the prominent names. The party is also engaged in seat-sharing talks with the Aam Aadmi Party, but the discussions are likely to fall through.
As the Haryana Assembly elections draw closer, the Congress and AAP have reignited talks for a potential alliance. While the arithmetic may make sense for the two parties to align, the real challenge may come from within the Congress state unit, led by former CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. With both parties delaying the release of their candidate lists, the political landscape in Haryana remains uncertain.
Gurnam Singh Chaduni, the president of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Chaduni) and a key figure in the farmers' agitation against the central farm laws, is looking to enter politics with his outfit Sanyukt Sangharsh Party. He speaks about the need for farmer representation in politics, the BJP's anti-farmer stance, and his criticism of the Congress and its leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Despite lack of funds, Chaduni is determined to plant the seed of farmer ideology in politics.
The Congress party has made it clear that its sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) from Haryana will not be contesting in the upcoming Assembly elections. This decision has put an end to any hopes held by senior MP Kumari Selja, who had previously expressed her desire to run for the state assembly. Congress in-charge of Haryana, Deepak Babaria, reiterated that no sitting MPs will be given the go-ahead to compete, amidst reports of Selja and Randeep Surjewala being potential candidates. This announcement also seemingly puts to rest the speculation of another senior leader, Hooda’s son, being fielded as a candidate.
On the occasion of Raksha Bandhan, actor Randeep Hooda received a Rakhi from Sarabjit Singh's daughter on behalf of her aunt, Dalbir. This holds a special meaning for Hooda as he shares a close bond with the family since he played the role of Sarabjit in the 2016 biopic. Hooda had started interacting with the family to better understand his character and now shares a deeper bond with them, with Sarabjit's sister Dalbir even considering him as her brother.
Congress MP Deepender Hooda and other party leaders gave a grand welcome to wrestler Vinesh Phogat upon her return from Paris. The welcome included a massive road show in the presence of other renowned wrestlers like Bajrang Punia. Haryana's Leader of Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has also announced that the Congress will nominate Vinesh Phogat to Rajya Sabha if it has enough numbers. However, Vinesh Phogat's uncle Mahavir Phogat has dismissed this announcement as a "political stunt."
Indian wrestler Reetika Hooda showed great determination and skill in the women's 76kg event at the Paris Olympics, but ultimately fell short in her quest for a medal. Hooda's impressive performance ended in a narrow defeat at the hands of top seed Aiperi Medet Kyzy in the quarterfinals. She then narrowly missed out on a chance for the bronze medal, as American wrestler Kennedy Blades closed the repechage route with an 8-6 victory over Kyrgyzstan wrestler Aiperi. Despite not winning a medal, Hooda's performance was a shining moment for Indian wrestling, as she became the first Indian woman to compete in the Olympics in the 76kg division. Head coach Virender Dahiya expressed disappointment in the result, but praised Hooda's growth and potential for the future.